Convertible package

ABSTRACT

A carton having a compact product storage position which opens up into an enlarged product use position. The carton is formed from a single sheet of fiberboard either plain or corrugated, flexible plastic or the like, slotted and scored to accommodate folding into a small, six-sided, sealed package housing a bag of absorbent ground clay. The box opens up into a large open-topped, closed-bottomed pan with upright sidewalls having free ends sealed by pressure-sensitive adhesive coated zones on the board. The clay product is spread over the bottom of the pan to provide a confined commode area for pets, such as cats.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Katherine Delia Riccio Chicago, Ill.[21 Appl. No. 830,938 [22] Filed June 6, I969 [45] Patented June 1,1971[73] Assignee Consolidated International Chemical Co.

Inc Chicago, Ill.

[54] CONVERTIBLE PACKAGE 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 229/33, 119/1, 229/40 [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/08,

AOlk 67/00 [50] Field of Search 229/33, 31 R, 40; 1 19/1 156] ReferencesCited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,154,052 10/1964 Sweeney H 119/12,770,411 11/1956 MacKay ..206/(ADH)(UX) 2,623,684 12/1952 Collura....229/33X 2,210,443 8/1940 Bergstein. 229/33X 1,994,541 3/1935 spiking 4.229/40 Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorneyl-Iill, Sherman, Meroni,Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT: A carton having a compact product storageposition which opens up into an enlarged product use position. Thecarton is formed from a single sheet of fiberboard either plain orcorrugated, flexible plastic or the like, slotted and scored toaccommodate folding into a small, six-sided, sealed package housing abag of absorbent ground clay. The box opens up into a large open-topped,closed-bottomed pan with upright sidewalls having free ends sealed bypressure-sensitive adhesive coated zones on the board. The clay productis spread over the bottom of the pan to provide a confined commode areafor pets, such as cats.

PATENTED JUN nemsum 1 or 2 0 I. c T WA WI ma D E w R l m B ATTORNE YSPATENTEDIJUN lts'n SHEET 2 OF 2 I N VEN TOR.

/(l7//t"//V6 Del/4 Baa/o FZVWATTORNEYS CONVERTIBLE PACKAGE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This invention relates to theart of folded boxboard cartons, and particularly to cartons which arefirst folded into a small, compact, closed box form housing a product inas small a space as possible, and capable of being opened up to form alarge pan providing-a confined area for a bed of the product. The cartonpreferably contains a bag of dry, absorbent granular or powder materialsufficient to cover the bottom of the opened up pan to a sufficientdepth for forming a commode area or toilet for cats and the like. Theopened-up pan has upright sidewalls extending sufficiently above the bedof absorbent material to provide barriers for the bed material duringscratching of the bed by the cat. The sidewalls are sealed together byadhesive provided thereon.

2. Description of the Prior Art I-Ieretofore, ground clay to serve as atoilet bed for cats has been sold in baggedform. The buyer had tofurnish a tray, box or pan on which a layer or bed of the material wasdeposited to form the toilet area for the pet. There was no correlationbetween the amount of the bagged product and the bed area of the pan ortray, thus frequently resulting in a bed of insufficient depth to affordproper absorption or, conversely, an unduly deep bed wasting thematerial and prone to free scattering by the cat. Pans or trays intendedfor reuse required distasteful cleaning chores. and randomly selecteddiscarded market cartons were cumbersome and varied in size. and upsetthe toilet trained habits of the cat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention now provides a carton having acompact, closed, six-sided configuration providing just enough space toslotted and scored to fold into a small six-sided box having awrapped-around cover with end flaps tucked between overlapped sideflaps, and with a side panel having triangularshaped overlapping flaps.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a package for materialproviding an absorbent bed, which package opens up to confine a bed areaof the material.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be readilyapparent from the following description of the herein illustratedpreferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, although variations and modifications may be effected withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of thedisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of thepackage or carton of this invention in its closed compact position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the package or carton of FIG. I in itsopened, expanded position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sheet of fiberboard cut and scored tofold into the packages of FIGS. I and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an initial folding of theblank board of FIG. 3 to form the package or carton of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing a further folding of theblank;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrates a final foldingoperation for forming the closed carton or package ofFIG.

house a bag of dry, ground absorbent clay in sufficient amounts to forma commode or toilet bed large enough and deep enough to accommodate evena large-sized cat. The carton easily unfolds into a large flat-bottomed,open-topped pan with vertical sidewalls extending sufficiently above thebed of the material deposited on the bottom from the bag housed by thecarton to stop scattering of the clayeven under violent scratchingaction by the cat. The upright sidewalls have their free ends securedtogether by pressure-sensitive adhesive provided on adjacent overlyingflaps. The amount of clay housed by the compact carton is correlatedwith the size of the opened-up pan so that the bed covering the bottomof the pan will have a sufficient depth to ensure efficient absorption.

The carton material is preferably moistureproof although, if desired, apartially absorbent material can be used on the inner face forming thepan with a moisture-impervious outer cover or coating. Thepressure-sensitive adhesive material provided on the overlapped flap is,likewise, rnoistureproof.

It is then an object of this invention to provide a carton having acompact product storage position and an enlarged product use position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a package for absorbentmaterial which opens into an enlarged pan providing a container forminga bed of the material for a pet toilet area.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carton formed from asingle sheet of fibrous board scored andslotted to fold into a six-sidedclosed compact box which is easily opened up into a greatly enlargedopen-topped, closed-bottomed, vertical sidewalled pan.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a package for ground,dry, absorbent clay which has a compact position storing a predeterminedamount of the clay, and an opened-up use position providing a walledtray for abed of the packaged clay, with the. compact position andopened position being correlated so that sufficient packaged clay isprovided to form an efficient absorbent toilet area for cats.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton from a singlerectangular sheet of fibrous board material which is DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENT The carton or package 10 of this invention has aclosed, compact box position 11 of FIG. I and an open enlarged orexpanded tray or pan position 12 of FIG. 2. The box position II of FIG.I is six-sided with square end walls 13 and 14!, rectangular top andbottom walls I5 and I6, and rectangular front and backwalls I7 and 18.The package thus has a closed end tubular configuration of squaretransverse cross section. The package is held in its closed position byadhesive tear tape or the like fasteners I9 and 20 connecting the endwalls I3 and I4 with the front wall I7.

In the opened position I2 of FIG. 2 the package or carton 10 has a flat,rectangular bottom 21, vertical end walls 22 and 23, and verticalsidewalls 24 and 25. As shown in broken-away portions, overlapped panelsforming the sidewalls 2d and 25 are adhesively united by strips ofpressure-sensitive adhesive applied to one or both mating faces of thepanels at 26 and 27. As illustrated in dotted lines, a bed B ofabsorbent granular or powdered clay covers the bottom 2I to a levelabout one-third the height of the side and end walls. This bed B iscomposed of the material housed in a bag (not shown) snugly fitting inthe container in its closed position II. The size of the closed positionII is correlated with the size of the open position I2 so that the fullyfilled closed carton may contain sufficient ground clay to form the bedB covering the entire bottom 211 of the carton in its open position 12to a level about one-third the height of the side and end walls. Thisbed B is composed of the material housed in a bag (not shown) snuglyfitting in the container in its closed position I I. The size of theclosed position 11 is correlated with the size 'of the open position 12so that the fully filled closed carton may contain sufficient groundclay to form the bed B covering the entire bottom 21 of the carton inits open position I2 to a level about one-third the height of theupstanding end and sidewalls of the openedup carton in the position I2of FIG. 2.

The carton III of this invention is formed from a single sheet or blankof fibrous material 28 shown in FIG. 3. The blank 28 may be composed ofcorrugated boxboard, plain cardboard, or any suitable carton-formingfoldable material. It is desired that at least one face of the blank 28be moistureproofsuch as, for example, the bottom face 29 which is toform the outside of the carton, thereby leaving an absorbent top orinner face 30 augmenting the absorbing action of the clay forming thebed B.

The blank 28 has four equally spaced transverse score lines 31, 32, 33and 34. Two longitudinal score lines 35 and 36 are provided. The endtransverse score line 31 is spaced inwardly from and parallel to thefront end edge 37 of the blank, while the score line 34 is spacedinwardly from and parallel to the rear end edge 38 of the blank. Thescore line 35 is spaced in wardly from and parallel to the front sideedge 39 of the blank, while the score line 36 is spaced inwardly fromand parallel to the rear end edge 40 of the blank.

The score lines 31 and 34 are cut through or slotted at their outer endsbeyond the longitudinal score lines 35 and 36, as illustrated at 41 and42 respectively.

Five square front end panels 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 are thereby provided.Identical rear end square panels 43-47 are also provided. In addition,five rectangular panels 48, 49, 50,

- 51 and 52 are provided between the square panels.

Diagonal score lines 53 bisect the panels 45, forming triangular panelsections 45a and 45b.

To form the closed carton or package position 11, the blank 28 is firstfolded as shown in FIG. 4. As therein shown, the end rectangular panel48 is bent vertically upward about the score line 31. The square endpanels 43 on the upright panel 48 are then bent about the score lines 35and 36 to overlie the adjacent rectangular panel 49 remaining flat.Next, the intermediate end panels 44, 45 and 46 are bent upwardly aboutthe score lines 35 and 36, with the panels 44 overlying the panels 43.The panels 47 and 52 remain flat and extend beyond the upright panels46.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the panels 45 are folded inwardly about theirscore lines 53, and the panel 50 is bent upwardly about score line 32 toabut the rear edges of the panels 44. In this position the panelsections 45!; are in overlapped relation to the panel sections 45b,which in turn are overlapped by the panel 50. The forming of thetriangular panels 45a and 45b by creasing the square panels 45 abouttheir score lines 53 also overlap the adjacent panels 46 on the panel51. The panels 46, of course, are free to fold relative to the panels 47because of the slots 42.

The next folding operation illustrated in FIG. 6 involves bending theflaps composed of panel sections 51 and 46 about the score line 33,bending the panel section 52 about the score line 34, and tucking theend panels 37 between the overlapped panels 43 and 44. Thus the panelsections 51 and 52 are wrapped around the open-topped box portions shownin FIG. to form the closed top and the overlying front wall of thecompact package.

To open up the compact package from the position 11 of FIG. 1 to theposition 12 of FIG. 2, it is only necessaryto unfold the carton throughthe steps illustrated in FIGS. 6, 5 and 4, with the final step ofunderlapping the panels 43 with the panels 44, and the panels 47 withthe panels 46, exposing the adhesive strips 26 and 27 on the outer facesof the underlapped panels 43 and 47, and pressing the adhesive againstthe adjacent panel faces to form an effective seal.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pressure-sensitive adhesive zones 26 and 27 canbe covered with tear strips 53 on the bottom or outer face 29 of theblank 28. When these strips are removed, the adhesive is exposed,forming the seals in the opened-up position 12 of the carton shown inFIG. 2.

From the above descriptions it will therefore be understood that thisinvention provides a very convenient package or carton having the dualfunction of storing absorbent granular material or powder in a compactcondition, and then capable of being opened up into an enlarged pan ortray in which the material can form a bed protected by upstandingsidewalls and creating a sanitary commode or toilet area for pets.

I claim as my invention:

1. A carton having a compact six-sided closed storage position and anenlarged open pan use position formed from a flat rectangular blank ofcarton forming board having transverse and longitudinal score linesdefining five central panels and a row of end panels on both ends oft ecentral panels, diagonal score lines dividing the middle end panels intoa plurality of triangular subpanels, said blank being folded about saidscore lines with the triangular subpanels overlapped against one of theadjacent central panels, with the end panels on one side'of thetriangular subpanels underlapped against the next adjacent central paneland with the end panels on the central panel adjoining said end panelunderlapped central panel having the end panels thereon tucked betweenthe remaining end panels to provide a six-sided closed carton adapted tobe unfolded into an open-topped closed-bottomed pan with verticalsidewalls surrounding the bottom and having corner end panels inoverlapped relation with adjacent panels and means for uniting theoverlapped panels for maintaining the sidewalls in said verticalposition.

2. A folding carton having a compact, six-sided closed position and anenlarged open-topped closed-bottom position with upstanding sidewallsdefining a use area, said carton formed from a flat rectangular blank ofcarton forming board having transverse and longitudinal score linesdefining five central panels, each with end panels on both ends thereof,slots separating the corner end panels from the next adjacent endpanels, diagonal score lines dividing the middle end panels into twotriangular subpanels, said carton forming board being folded with thetriangular subpanels in overlapped relation, the corner end panels onone end of the board inserted between the end panels on the nextadjacent central panel, the end panels on the central panel nextadjacent the overlapped triangular subpanels being folded intounderlapped relation with said next adjacent central panel to provide adouble thickness cover for the carton, and the remaining comer endpanels being tucked between the other corner end panels and the endpanels overlying said other corner end panels, pressure sensitiveadhesive on the corner end panels for uniting them to the next adjacentend panels in the open use position of the carton, and removableprotective tapes covering said adhesive.

3. A carton which comprises a six-sided box formed from a flat sheet offibrous board material having transverse and longitudinal score linesdefining five central panels, each with end panels on both ends thereof,slots separating the corner end panels from the next adjacent end panelsand diagonal score lines dividing the middle end panels into twotriangular subpanels, said sheet being folded about said seore linesinto said six-sided box, said box being openable from said six-sidedposition into an-open topped closed bottom pan position with verticalwalls surrounding the bottom and with the corner panels lapping the nextadjacent end panels, pressure sensitive adhesive on the free ends of thecorner panels, and protective tapes covering said adhesive to bestripped from said adhesive in the open pan position of the canon toexpose the adhesive for uniting and sealing the overlapped end panels.

4. The carton of claim 3 wherein the score lines for forming the closedand opened box shape include five transverse score lines parallel withthe end edges of the blank and two longitudinal score lines parallelwith the side edges of the blank, said diagonal score lines bisectingthe middle end panels formed by the transverse and longitudinal scorelines.

5. The carton of claim 3 wherein the sheet material has amoisture-impervious cover.

1. A carton having a compact six-sided closed storage position and anenlarged open pan use position formed from a flat rectangular blank ofcarton forming board having transverse and longitudinal score linesdefining five central panels and a row of end panels on both ends of thecentral panels, diagonal score lines dividing the middle end panels intoa plurality of triangular subpanels, said blank being folded about saidscore lines with the triangular subpanels overlapped against one of theadjacent central panels, with the end panels on one side of thetriangular subpanels underlapped against the next adjacent central paneland with the end panels on the central panel adjoining said end panelunderlapped central panel having the end panels thereon tucked betweenthe remaining end panels to provide a six-sided closed carton adapted tobe unfolded into an opentopped closed-bottomed pan with verticalsidewalls surrounding the bottom and having corner end panels inoverlapped relation with adjacent panels and means for uniting theoverlapped panels for maintaining the sidewalls in said verticalposition.
 2. A folding carton having a compact, six-sided closedposition and an enlarged open-topped closed-bottom position withupstanding sidewalls defining a use area, said carton formed from a flatrectangular blank of carton forming board having transverse andlongitudinal score lines defining five central panels, each with endpanels on both ends thereof, slots separating the corner end panels fromthe next adjacent end panels, diagonal score lines dividing the middleend panels into two triangular subpanels, said carton forming boardbeing folded with the triangular subpanels in overlapped relation, thecorner end panels on one end of the board inserted between the endpanels on the next adjacent central panel, the end panels on the centralpanel next adjacent the overlapped triangular subpanels being foldedinto underlapped relation with said next adjacent central panel toprovide a double thickness cover for the carton, and the remainingcorner end panels being tucked between the other corner end panels andthe end panels overlying said other corner end panels, pressuresensitive adhesive on the corner end panels for uniting them to the nextadjacent end panels in the open use position of the carton, andremovable protective tapes covering said adhesive.
 3. A carton whichcomprises a six-sided box formed from a flat sheet of fibrous boardmaterial having transverse and longitudinal score lines defining fivecentral panels, each with end panels on both ends thereof, slotsseparating the corner end panels from the next adjacent end panels anddiagonal score lines dividing the middle end panels into two triangularsubpanels, said sheet being folded about said score lines into saidsix-sided box, said boX being openable from said six-sided position intoan open topped closed bottom pan position with vertical wallssurrounding the bottom and with the corner panels lapping the nextadjacent end panels, pressure sensitive adhesive on the free ends of thecorner panels, and protective tapes covering said adhesive to bestripped from said adhesive in the open pan position of the carton toexpose the adhesive for uniting and sealing the overlapped end panels.4. The carton of claim 3 wherein the score lines for forming the closedand opened box shape include five transverse score lines parallel withthe end edges of the blank and two longitudinal score lines parallelwith the side edges of the blank, said diagonal score lines bisectingthe middle end panels formed by the transverse and longitudinal scorelines.
 5. The carton of claim 3 wherein the sheet material has amoisture-impervious cover.